A streamlined car powered by a JCB hydrogen engine has set one speed record and is soon to attempt more, including the World Speed Record for cars of its type.
JCB’s hydrogen-powered Hydromax streamliner clinched an SCTA (Southern California Timing Association) speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats – reaching 368.347mph (592.797km/h) at the world’s leading land speed racing event.
Driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, the car set a new record in the Blown Gas Streamliner (AA/BGS, 500+ cubic inches) class.
The run was completed as part of the SCTA’s Bonneville Speed Week, regarded as the world’s premier land speed racing event, which requires teams to make two runs on consecutive days and takes the average of the maximum speeds reached.
JCB chairman Lord Bamford said: “To reach 368.347mph is a fantastic achievement for the whole JCB Hydromax team.
“It shows just what JCB’s hydrogen engines are capable of ahead of our outright FIA world record attempt.
“This project is about proving that hydrogen power can perform at the very highest level with zero emissions, and today’s result is powerful evidence of that.”
Driver Andy Green, who already holds the overall World Speed Record at 763.035mph and is the only person to break the sound barrier on land, said: “It has been an absolute joy to be back on the salt, racing at Speed Week alongside some incredible teams.
“The Bonneville Salt Flats are the home of the World Land Speed Record, where racers get to push the boundaries of physics and innovation.
“This record has given all of us huge confidence in the car, the team and the quality of the engineering. With our first record in the bag, we’re now turning up the power on the engines, aiming to go even faster next week.”
JCB Hydromax project leader Ryan Ballard said: “Speed Week is one of the most iconic and respected events in world motorsport, bringing together competitors from around the globe who share a passion for pushing the boundaries of engineering and performance.
“We are immensely grateful to the Southern California Timing Association for the professionalism, expertise and enthusiasm with which they organise this unique event. The SCTA’s commitment to land speed racing has created a platform where innovation can thrive and records can be challenged.
“It has been a privilege for JCB to compete here, and we’d like to thank everyone involved for making us feel so welcome as we strive towards even greater achievements on the Salt Flats.”
The 32-foot-long (9.75 metres), twin-engined JCB Hydromax recorded a speed of 367.141mph on its first run and 369.554mph on its second, giving an average speed of 368.347mph and setting a new SCTA record on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The result surpasses the previous SCTA record of 348.342mph (560.602km/h) set by the Spectre Streamliner in 2010, marking the first time in 16 years the class record has been broken.
Following Speed Week, the JCB Hydromax team is remaining at Bonneville to pursue officially recognised world records under the FIA, the global governing body for motorsport. The JCB Hydromax team has been running to a strict test programme, completing 44 runs to date, building speed and confidence in the car as they push the limits of hydrogen combustion technology and showcase British engineering to a global audience.
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